We have received notice from several unions that they will strike or participate in a sympathy strike at UCSF and across the University of California (UC) system beginning the week of May 7, ending May 10, 2018. Please read below for more details.

We value our employees and respect their rights to representation and freedom of speech; that said, striking is a serious matter, especially when it directly affects vital public services such as patient care. Every day, our patients entrust their lives to us, and in turn, we are responsible for ensuring that they receive the highest quality care in a safe and secure environment.

At all times, our top priorities are ensuring the safety and security of the entire UCSF community – faculty, staff, learners, patients and visitors.

We hope for an amicable resolution to the ongoing labor negotiations that have been underway for the past year with six unions. The UC Office of the President is conducting negotiations on behalf of the entire UC system, which is committed to reaching a negotiated agreement on compensation and benefits with all unions.

We have created a contingency plan to support our ongoing work and to minimize the strike’s impact. Even so, we expect disruptions to various services across the campus, particularly at UCSF Health, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, and the UCSF Dental Center.

More information about operational impacts and important bargaining updates will be posted at the In the Know website next week.

On April 24, you will receive an invitation to participate in the 2018 UCSF Staff Engagement Survey. This survey is important for helping us understand the progress toward our shared goal of making UCSF a great place to work.

Since 2011, Gallup has conducted five engagement surveys at UCSF. Over the years, you and your managers have worked hard to develop and implement action plans across departments and units, which have resulted in a steady increase in overall staff engagement.

I am pleased to share a few highlights of our recent findings and progress. You can read more about the survey and activities across the university in Pulse of UCSF.

Following the 2015 survey, we prioritized opportunities for staff professional development, and these efforts were reflected as our greatest improvements in the 2017 survey.

Last year, we launched UCSF Recognize, an online platform to spotlight colleagues and thank them for their excellent work, further enhancing a culture of appreciation and engagement.

To build a unified and collaborative community at UCSF, the campus formally embraced the core PRIDE Values of professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity, and excellence, already adopted within UCSF Medical Center.

In order to continue our collective progress, your participation in the 2018 Staff Engagement Survey is essential....